Visitors to Rydal Penrhos frequently remark on the attractiveness of the campus, and the quality of our facilities and
grounds, which present a year-round challenge to our hard-working and inventive Estates department; just this summer, for
example, the department has undertaken the refurbishment of Ashcroft boarding house, which is now the new home of
Hathaway house, and created a new Lower School centre for Years 7 and 8. In As You Like It Duke Senior declares, ‘this
our life...Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in every thing’, and we hope
that the setting of the school inspires and encourages our pupils to enjoy their learning and aspire to do the best they can
in their public exams in sport and in other extra-curricular activity. We have just embarked on a new academic year with high
hopes of building on the successes and achievements described in this newsletter, and that applies to the unsung heroes
and heroines of the school just as much as to those who have won the prizes and accolades recorded here. Regardless of
what the politicians choose to do with the public exam system, we aim to instil our pupils with lasting values and the
confidence to step out positively to the future.
Patrick Lee-Browne, Headmaster

Exam Results 2012

Pupils from Rydal Penrhos continue to reach new heights with record achievements at the top of the A-level scale.

Out of 41 A-level candidates, 40% were awarded A* and A grades (the A* is
awarded to candidates who score more than 90% in their final papers). Fourteen
candidates achieved at least one A*, and the outgoing Head Boy, Thomas
Warrington, was awarded 4 A*s, which has secured him a place at Cambridge
University to study Engineering. Eleanor Murphy, Natasha Kanvinde and Gary
Wu were awarded 2 A*s each, and Harriet Barlow, Nick Bellamy, Freya Cassia and
William Pullman also scored on apiece. The top grades were achieved in Biology,
Chemistry, Design and Technology, English Literature, Mathematics, Further
Mathematics and Religious Studies. Just over 64% of pupils scored grades
A*-B, which is an improvement on last year’s best-ever figure for those grades at
the school.

The results of the International Baccalaureate were published in July. The
average points score of 31.6 for the 26 candidates was an improvement on last year’s
performance, representing the equivalent to 2 A*s and an A grade for each
candidate. Amelia Dunton, Deputy Head Girl, scored 42 points out of a maximum
45, and Joel Sugarman scored a very impressive 39. Amelia is going to study
English at Leeds, while Joel will be studying Medicine at University College, London.

When the A-level and International Baccalaureate results are combined, the average
UCAS score is 367 points, which represents the equivalent of three A grades for
each candidate. These results confirm that the school excels in preparing its pupils to achieve real academic success
in the Sixth form. The breadth of subjects in which pupils achieved the highest grades – four A*s in English Literature
alone – shows that the school equips its pupils for a wide range of university courses as the next stage towards their
chosen careers.
Year 11 candidates celebrated their GCSEs, with some excellent individual and subject achivements. The results reflect
the hard work that the pupils have put into their exams, and the year group
scored an average eight-and-a-half A*-C passes.

Lydia Davidson achieved a clean sheet of 10 A*s, and Hannah Davies,
Sophie Cashell, Alexander Farnell and Sara Popa scored all A*s and As.
Laurie Brummitt and Jingyi Xie also scored 20 As and A*s between them,
and a total of 18 pupils achieved at least seven A* or A grades each.
A good number of subjects, including Biology, Chemistry, Drama, English,
Physics, Spanish and Welsh achieved a 100% pass rate at A*-C.
Issue 2 - Page 2

Academic News
Leaversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Destinations

The school is happy to report great success at securing chosen university places this year for both A-level and IB students. At
the time of going to press, many IB students are still in the process of applying for universities in mainland Europe, the USA
or the Far East (who recruit later than UK universities).

Amongst the many successes this year were Tom Warrington with 4 A*s, now
going on to study Engineering at Cambridge, and Gary Wu with 2 A*s and
2 As who will study Accountancy at Bristol. Nick Bellamy secured his place to
read Medicine in Edinburgh while Amy Yu goes to City University, London, to
read Economics. Mandy Lau, who achieved 3 A grades, will study Business in
Hong Kong. Julienne Krool, with 4 As, is taking a year out as are Catherine
Davies and Anna Stevenson who also achieved straight As. Amongst our IB
students, Amelia Dunton is going to study English at Leeds, and Joel Sugarman
will read Medicine at University College, London.
Mike Farnell, Head of UCAS and Careers

Inspired by the Olympics

The Olympic Games inspired the work of the Lower Sixth
form as they carried out a Science Project, which forms part
of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.

From testing the effectiveness of different brands of sun
lotion, analysing how the sugar in energy drinks really affects
performance, or the effect different music genres have on heart
rate, pupils planned and researched their subjects thoroughly.
They
then
undertook
experiments to support their
theories. In groups of four or
five, pupils analysed their
results along with the social,
ethical,
economic
and
environmental implications
of their topic.

To complete their projects, pupils presented their findings to
pupils and teachers, creating interactive displays in the Science
Labs. Younger pupils were invited to participate in experiments
and research as they explored the different projects to help the
Sixth form pupils to complete their studies. Pupils in Year 7 in
particular were fascinated by the displays and encouraged other
pupils to visit the Science Labs to find out more.

Public Speaking Challenge

Rydal Penrhos School was awash with well thought-out
arguments and opinions, as pupils in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 took
turns competing in the Inter-House Public Speaking
Competition. With subjects ranging
from modern art, chocolate,
evolution, the media and Facebook,
the competition was hugely
informative for the assembled
audience of peers and teachers, and
the judging panel of six pupils from
the Lower Sixth form. Pupils were
required to decide upon and research
their topic, develop their opinion and
arguments, write a speech and present as part of the
competition.

The judges were impressed by the range of topic choices, the
confident and fluent delivery of the pupils and their
rhetorical skills. The Years 7 & 8 competition was jointly won
by Oliver Smethurst (not pictured) and Lily Spillane, with
third place awarded to Caroline Large. The Years 9 & 10
competition was won by Glen Davies for his highly engaging
arguments and in-depth research. Joint second place was
awarded to Eve Davies and Gabriel McCluskey.

Upcoming Open Events

Saturday 29 September, 9am-12pm
Preparatory, Pre-Prep and Early Years Open Day

It took our Borneo Team, consisting of Rydal Penrhos pupils from the ages of 15 to 18,
nearly a year and a half to prepare for our expedition to Borneo, the third largest island in
the world. We spent much of this time planning, as well as completing a practice
expedition in Snowdonia, several other team development activities, and running a series
of fundraising events.

After so long preparing, on 17 July we finally caught a bus (the first of very, very many!)
from Colwyn Bay, to Hayes Community College in London. We began 30 hours of travel
the next morning to get to Kota Kinabalu, Borneo. This included a nine-hour wait in
Brunei airport. From Brunei it was a short, 40-minute flight to Kota
Kinabalu, the capital of Malaysian Borneo’s Sabah district. Arriving in the City Park Lodge
(our base for the next three weeks), hot and tired, at around 9pm local time it wasn’t long until
we had all collapsed onto our beds. The next day began with a seven-hour bus journey across
the country to the MESCOT headquarters, on the Kinabatangan River, and after a brief
introduction we were soon on a boat heading downstream to our new home deep in the floodplain rainforest. Here we set up our hammocks and got settled in.

We spent the next two days in the jungle learning about the plants and animals around us and
collecting over 1,000 saplings to help with afforestation. One particular highlight was spotting
a wild Orang-utan on one of the river cruises! On the third day, however, it was even hotter
than before. The day’s task was clearing out an area of elephant grass, a very
stubborn, invasive species that had overtaken areas previously cleared by logging. After four hard
hours of chopping and slashing with machetes in the sweltering heat and humidity, and 40 litres
of water later, everyone was struggling with heat-stroke to varying degrees. We had managed to
clear an area three or four times bigger than our guides had been expecting, (partly down to
determination, but mostly due to Sam Heron’s utter efficiency!) so we headed back to camp
feeling tired but very proud of our achievements.

We went back to the site on the following day and planted some of the saplings we had collected,
before travelling back to HQ to be assigned to our home-stay families. We were divided into pairs
to live, eat and sleep in these family’s houses for two nights, whilst also working on various
community projects. On the final night, we gave a cultural performance for the local people,
demonstrating the best of British sports.

The next morning we took a bus to the Sepilok Orang-utan rehabilitation centre, founded in
1964, and apart from being able to see Orang-utans, we were also all overjoyed to finally have
flushing toilets again! We arrived just in time for a somewhat unexpected performance from a
group of Macaque monkeys before the Orang-utans arrived for the morning feeding
session.

After our short stay at Sepilok, we had a rest day in City Park Lodge back in Kota Kinabalu
before travelling to Miki’s Survival Camp, which lies on private land at the foot of Mount
Kinabalu. While here, we learnt some rudimentary survival skills, such as fire-building, some
of the many uses of bamboo, including trap-building, and how to skin and cook the animals
we caught. Ben Proudlove, the expedition leader, took all this learning to heart and became only
the third person in 13 years to catch an animal (a squirrel) in his trap whilst at the jungle camp!

From there, our group journeyed to the very base of Mount Kinabalu itself, the 20th highest in
the world, standing at 4095.4m. It took nearly five hours for us to reach the hut where we would
spend the night, about 800m below the summit. Leaving the hut at 3am the next morning we climbed the final 3km, but as we got higher and higher, the walking became
much harder as altitude sickness, fatigue and a lack of oxygen began to take their toll.
We reached the summit at about 7am and looked out over the stunning views
feeling exhausted but ecstatic as we all knew we had achieved something remarkable.
After another bus journey back to Kota Kinabalu, we spent the night recovering in City
Park Lodge before travelling by boat to the TAR islands the next morning for some
much needed R&R. We spent the last couple of days of the expedition relaxing on the
sandy beaches, snorkelling on the coral reefs and playing volley ball against the locals.
We stayed a final night in City Park Lodge before leaving for the long journey home.
The expedition was all but over and each us knew that we had learned many new
things about ourselves, our capability to work as a team in difficult situations, our own
personal thresholds for fatigue and, indeed, pain, how to cope with extraordinary and
life-changing opportunities and so many other lessons that will undoubtedly remain
with us for the rest of our lives.

Issue 2 - Page 4

With thanks to Oscar Sanchez for his fantastic
photographs and Tom Warrington and Sam
Heron for their account of the trip.

Speech Day

Speech Day this year took place on a gloriously sunny June day in the celebration marquee on
New Field. The Headmaster Mr Patrick Lee-Browne started by greeting the Chairman, Guest
Speaker, Mrs Kearsley-Wooller, the Mayor, Governors, Alumni, parents and members of the
school.
“I must start by thanking Tom and Catherine: they
have been excellent role models for the rest of the
school, because they embody many of the qualities
that we want to foster in all our pupils: integrity, a
genuine and well-developed intellectual appetite, a
real sense of fairness, obvious ability to take
responsibility and a willingness to join in such a wide
range of school activities at a high level.

Here, today, more than ever we need to prepare our
young people for an uncertain future; maybe not just
a blip, but a permanent state of insecurity. That
preparation includes learning to work in teams,
learning to respect other peoples’ differences,
developing self-discipline and intellectual and
emotional stamina; it includes being willing to take
risks and put yourself outside your comfort zone,
being willing to come in early to prepare for an event
or an activity, or staying late to make sure that it is a
success; and it also includes learning how to be
resilient, to be patient and to be able to read people
and situations effectively.

The landscape of higher education has changed so
dramatically in the last twenty years, dominated by
issues of the increasing competition for places at the
best universities, questions about the quality of
A-levels as preparation for university study because
schools feel obliged to teach to the test rather than
educating young people more broadly for life and
work, tuition fees, and the marketization of
universities that sets a value on different degree
subjects and differentiates increasingly between
teaching and research.

Independent schools are uniquely experienced in
many of the areas that universities will have to work
at: educational value for money, pastoral care, advice
on the next stage of pupils’ careers, the all-round
preparation for life and, above all, building the
understanding that the other things that you do are
so important; the extra-curricular activities, the
group identity, a moral and spiritual dimension to
your weekly routine, working with pupils who may
be younger, or less able, or come from a very
different part of the world, or from very different
family circumstances – all these things give our
pupils a proper preparation for university and for the
life beyond.

Two prominent characteristics of the education we
provide are so important in preparing pupils for
adult life: our international dimension and our
commitment to a wide extra-curricular programme.

The opportunity for day pupils to enjoy the cultural
breadth that our boarding community represents is
very special, and gives them a unique experience of
living and working in an international community
that will prepare them for the multicultural and
global job market that awaits them after university.
By the same token, our international pupils thrive in
a school community that is well grounded in the
region and provides them with a unique experience
when they move on to the next stage of their lives.

That other USP is the extra-curricular dimension of
the school. Remember the competition for
university places, and the expectations on the job
candidates of the future to stand out from the rest,
not just in a list of activities and achievements, but
in who they are as a person. Academic results remain
central to a successful application, but there is also an
ever increasing demand for experience of problem
solving and teamworking in the workplace,
independence and initiative, and resilience and selfdiscipline. To develop pupils’ skills in those areas, we
offer a very wide core of extra-curricular activities
that include team games and individual sports,
outdoor education, house competitions, clubs and
societies, art, music, drama which have gone from
strength to strength.

Our objective this year was to develop an enrichment
programme for the lower school that includes a
range of intellectual, cultural and practical activities
to stimulate pupils’ interest, and a service
programme for Year 11 and the Sixth form, and we
are very pleased with the progress that the new
initiatives have made. I know from many years of
working with secondary pupils that the ones who
stand out and command attention are those with
interests, opinions, a willingness to challenge and
question; in other words, an extra dimension beyond
the syllabus and the compulsory curriculum.

I would like to thank all the teaching and support
staff for their contribution to the school over the
course of the last year. They continue to work really
hard to bring out the best in the pupils, and not only
in the classroom, but just as much on the rockface,
the orchestra rehearsal, in the drama studio, the
games field or Astroturf, in debating, art, learning or
language support, while being on duty in the
boarding house or taking a weekend trip to
Liverpool or a theatre trip to Llandudno, the added
value that they offer provides that inspiration that
motivates the pupils to aspire higher.”

To read the Headmaster’s speech in full, and that of the Guest of Honour, Sarah
Kearsley-Wooller please visit our website www.rydalpenrhos.com where the full list of
prize winners can also be found.

The Sixth form is an exciting transition from the structured
world of the compulsory years of education towards the total
independence of university life.

Pupils are equipped with ‘skills for life’ and receive excellent
levels of tutor contact and have individual education plans to
assist them with their studies.
Since 2004 we have offered Sixth form pupils the opportunity
to study AS/A-levels and the International Baccalaureate. This
year also sees the introduction of the OCR Nationals in Sport
and Tourism, allowing pupils to follow their pathway to new
horizons.

The school recognises the importance of enhancing the
leadership qualities of the Sixth form as it helps pupils to
become ‘all-rounded’ individuals. There are significant
opportunities to take part in activities including sport, drama
and music. In addition pupils take part in a two-day Leadership
Course which is used as part of the process for selecting school
prefects. All prefects become involved in leadership of the rest
of the school through running a number of committees, such
as Charity, Social, Sustainable Development and Management.

Head Boy – Henry Salisbury

Since joining the School in Year 7, Henry has been
involved in a huge range of activities including sailing,
skiing, hockey, rugby, football, cricket, tennis,
swimming, ski trips, drama
productions, debating competitions
and RNLI services to name just a
few!

During his year as Head Boy, Henry,
who is studying the International
Baccalaureate, aims to integrate the
whole school by bringing members
of each year group closer together, to make a bigger
and better family.
“I am very excited for the new school year and am ready for the
challenges that lie ahead.”

Henry will be applying to Oxford, Imperial College,
Edinburgh, Durham and Exeter to study Geophysics,
before following his ambition of joining the oil
industry.

Head Girl – Annabel Large

She says, “I am thoroughly looking forward to the year ahead,
and hope I can fulfil the role to its expectations.”

Arts & Sport

Boarding

Prefects 2012-13

During her year as Head Girl, Annabel hopes to help
the integration between year groups, bringing the school
as a whole closer together. Annabel will set a good
example to those in years below and
is a fantastic role model as she takes
part in a huge number of group
activities, including choir, drama,
orchestra and sporting teams – and
she has recently raced in the Cross
Country
Championships.
The
complete mix of international
students and the family atmosphere
are the things that Annabel most enjoys about Rydal
Penrhos.

Celebrations

School Life

Sixth Form

Annabel hopes to pursue a career in medicine and will
be applying to Cambridge, Cardiff, Newcastle and
Bristol universities.

Starting a new school can be a daunting experience with new teachers, classrooms to find and new friends to make.
Rydal Penrhos aims to integrate new pupils as quickly and smoothly as possible with the help of small classes, form
tutors, the Head of Lower School and current pupils. We asked a few pupils in Year 7 to reflect on their experiences
during their first year at Rydal Penrhos;
Senior School has made me think
about how I learn. Before, when I
thought to myself “I need to work better”,
I wasn’t sure what that meant, but now I’m
beginning to see exactly what that involves
and how I should be doing it. Mostly it’s
about thinking hard and asking the teacher
if you’re stuck. In Form Time we discuss our
grades for Effort and Achievement and our
Tutor helps us to set targets.
Nicholas

My Mum and Dad live in Nigeria so
I came here as a Boarder. I like
boarding because I study more and
I have made lots of friends.To me it’s
like a sleepover! Boarding has
taught me to be more social and
how to be organised. Rydal Penrhos
is awesome and now I have a whole
family of new friends.
Gabby

During the week at different times we have a
programme called Enrichment. It’s lots of
activities which help to develop skills e.g.
debating, or jewellery-making. They’re good
fun because they don’t really feel like normal
lessons and you don’t realise you are learning
until you think about what you’ve just done.
The programme breaks up the school week
and makes it more enjoyable.
Carmia

Some weekends, if my parents are going
away I board at Beecholme. I enjoy it because
I join in with everything. The last time I was
there I walked to Rhos with a friend and we
bought an ice cream and went to the oldfashioned sweet shop.
Rhys

Once a week we have an
afternoon of Activities.
They are great fun. This
year I have done, among
others,
rock-climbing,
sailing, camp-craft and
bio-geography.
I’ve
enjoyed learning new
skills and I’m looking
forward to doing more
next year.
Jack
When I first came here I was
a bit shy and quiet. My tutor
organised a Conversation
Club for me and I go to it
once a week. Some girls in
Year 9 and 10 talk to me and
this has helped me build up
my confidence, as well as
making new friends.
Maheen
One of the best bits of Year 7
has been getting ready for the
Lower School expedition to
Jordan. We have had to think
of ways to raise money. I have
run a tuck shop and we have
also had a table top sale. The
Jordan trip has made me use
my initiative and we have all
had to show enterprise. Finn

When I started Senior School I didn’t know
anyone so I joined the Choir. So far we have
sung at St John’s Church and in the
Memorial Hall. We rehearse every Friday
after lunch. I sit with the Choir in Chapel.
Through Choir I’ve got to know more
people. Now I feel like I belong here and I
was even voted Form Captain.
Jessica

I’m not a very organised person but being at
Senior School has helped me because we
have a Planner and we are taught to fill in
Prep and note down other important stuff. I
also have an extra lesson to help with
organisation and so I can do well in maths.
Gabriel

I didn’t know any other Year 7 pupils when I
started here, but my Form were really nice
and I got on with them all. In PSHE we
learned about making and keeping friends
and discussed how to be a good friend to
others. The piece of advice I’d give for new
pupils is just smile and treat everyone as
you’d wish to be treated.
Matty

Year 7 has been a good year. My
confidence has definitely grown and
now I ask lots more questions in
class. I look forward to new
challenges now, because I know I am
capable of being organised, working
with others and working independently. Rydal Penrhos is a superduper school and I hope I never
have to move schools! Elysia

London Calling

A weekend of sightseeing, theatre and fun awaited pupils from Year 7 as they travelled to London. Pupil Lily
Spillane has provided us with her account of the action-packed weekend:

On Saturday, we visited the London Dungeons, it
was terrifying! After that, a trip to the Tower of London was
an interesting experience, especially seeing
the crown jewels! We then made our way
down to the River Thames, for our boat trip
where we learnt a lot about the city and its
buildings.
Following some free time to shop around
Covent Garden, we met up to have an
Italian meal followed by the show

w w w. r y d a l p e n r h o s. c o m

‘Matilda’. It was terrific, and everyone enjoyed it,
especially since the next day we heard it had won seven
Olivier Awards!

On Sunday, we had a tour of Madame
Tussauds. The wax works were cool, and we
all took a lot of pictures. We made our way
back to Euston, and travelled home. We all
had an amazing time and I for one want to go
again next year.
Issue 2 - Page 7

The annual Leavers’ Ball took place in the Celebration Marquee on New Field
to welcome pupils in the Upper Sixth into the Rydal Penrhos Society and to
celebrate their time at School.

Boarding

Arts & Sport

Celebrations

School Life

Latest News

Welcome

Leavers’ Ball

Issue 2 - Page 8

Photographs from the Leavers’ Ball can be viewed at
www.photoboxgallery.com/rps

w w w. r y d a l p e n r h o s. c o m

Year 11 Celebration Dinner

Year 11 pupils celebrated the end of their academic year with a Celebration Dinner
which took place in the Ferguson Centre and the Dining Hall. The evening was the
last opportunity for the year group to spend an evening with friends before their
GCSE examinations began.

It is with sadness we say goodbye to our former Head of Art,
Karen Teal, who has taken up a position in Dulwich College
International High School in Suzhou, China. Since joining
Penrhos in 1990 she has applied her broad artistic experience to the
service of the school, and been equally inspiring with textiles,
technology, fine art, ceramics, print and photography.

In her place we welcome Mark Sherrington (RS 75-86) who has spent
the last 12 years teaching Art to all age groups at Caterham School.

“After 25 years I am returning to Rydal Penrhos. I have a great deal less hair
than I did when I left, but my interest in Art is undiminished and I still have the
enquiring mind that Rydal School helped to create.”

Mark will be initiating new techniques and ways of working, including
dry-point etching and latex model and mould making. There are also
plans in place to create a small photographic studio in the Art
department to enable pupils to control the lighting and environment
of their pictures. Alongside this, Mark hopes to set up a dark room to
work side-by-side with a digital facility to develop photographs.

Vibrant pieces of art created by pupils will begin to appear around the
school and look out for surprise art exhibitions taking place around
the buildings!

Mark continues, “It is a very exciting time within the Art department and with
the help of our new teacher Anna Morgan and the experience and vibrancy that
Suzy Walsh can offer I am sure this next chapter within the Art Department at
Rydal Penrhos will be a fruitful and creative one.”

A-level art pieces, class of 2011/12

Welcome

Latest News

School Life

Celebrations

Arts & Sport

Boarding

Creative Arts

Music to Fill the Corridors of Rydal Penrhos

We are excited by the arrival of Julian Whittaker as the new
Director of Music at Rydal Penrhos, a role which he has
already held for 15 years, the last seven of which were at Ysgol
Brynhyfryd, in Ruthin.

Julian has a reputation for his innovative, creative and
inclusive teaching and his ethos of making music central to life
of the school and the area. He loves enthusing young people
to participate in diverse musical styles, giving everyone the
opportunity to change their lives through music.

A choral conductor, pianist and viola player himself, Julian has
prepared choirs, bands and orchestras for tours and
performances a-plenty in the past and hopes to have the same
opportunities at Rydal Penrhos. He anticipates competitions,
tours home and abroad, making singing part of everyone’s

Issue 2 - Page 10

daily life in school, a try-a-new-instrument initiative, and
developing a culture of performing anytime, any place,
anywhere. Julian says, “Participating
in a musical activity and playing an
instrument develops teamwork,
enables you to make new friends,
improves your maths and other subjects
– and it is fun!”
Julian also wishes parents to get
involved in all kinds of fun
and exciting musical activities in
school – so please keep your eye
out for invitations to join in over
the coming months!

w w w. r y d a l p e n r h o s. c o m

Sport

Fantastic Five Selected to Represent Wales
U17 Cricket Squad for Sean

Sean Kitchen has been selected
for the Wales U17 National
Cricket Squad.

Sean, who is also a member of
Llandudno Cricket Club, was
selected for the national side
following successful trials at
Ebbw Vale.

Sean’s father thanked Rydal
Penrhos for the role the School
and in particular Mr Leach, Head
of PE & Games had in Sean’s
success, commenting, “We are particularly grateful for the time
and effort that Mr Leach and his team have given to Sean, which
has undoubtedly helped his development.”

Hannah is Youngest Player

At 14 years old, Hannah Cashell
has become the youngest
member of the Wales U16
Hockey Squad.

Hannah was selected for the
Welsh team following a
gruelling selection process
which included a day of squad
training followed by a two-day
training camp in Wrexham.
Hannah now has the opportunity to play in the squad for
three years.

The squad travelled to Holland over the summer
holidays for a number of games where Hannah made her
international debut.

Cricket Success for Jack

Jack Sissons has successfully secured a place in the Wales
U13 Cricket Squad.

Despite a wet summer, Jack, 13, has had a very successful
cricket season, having also been selected to captain his
club side, Llandudno. He also made his debut for the
School’s 1st XI.
w w w. r y d a l p e n r h o s. c o m

Dion joins Wales U18 Rugby

Dion Jones, a WRU RGC Academy
player was called up for the Wales
U18s Squad for its tour of South
Africa which took place over the
summer.

As part of the Academy, Dion has
spent the last two years being put
through a thorough programme
that covers all aspects of the
modern game including technical,
tactical, physical and mental skills.

Dion will study Sports Science at
Swansea University from Autumn 2012, alongside which he has
also been signed up to the Scarlets Academy Squad.

Of his fantastic achievement, Dion says, “Having this opportunity
with the Scarlets will help me develop further in my rugby, allowing
training and possibly playing experiences with the seniors along with a chance
to study and pursue my academic career.

These experiences and opportunities will help me develop into a player to play
in the Wales U20s for 2013, should I be fortunate enough, and hopefully
one day I will achieve my dream of playing for Wales’s senior side.”

Dion was among the first to join the WRU RGC Academy at
Rydal Penrhos. The venture allows those selected for the
Academy to follow an integrated timetable that includes study of
a wide range of academic and vocational courses together with
between 14 and 16 hours of rugby development every week.

The training enables players to develop their skills on the pitch,
as well as their physique and fitness, through the integrated
programme, along with training with the RGC 1404. The School
provides players with access to outstanding facilities, a strong
rugby fixture programme and two highly qualified senior coaches.

Welsh Eventing Team Call-up

Upper Sixth form pupil, Stephanie Hughes has been selected to
represent Wales as part of the Under 18 Welsh Eventing Team.

Stephanie was chosen for the team following her
performance at the Pony Club Championships held at
Cholmondeley Castle, where her team were placed in 8th position
against teams from Scotland, England and Ireland.
Issue 2 - Page 11

Welcome

Latest News

School Life

Celebrations

Arts & Sport

Boarding

Pupils Complete Methodist Marathon

The Methodist School Marathon saw pupils and staff take part in an initiative to complete the distance of a marathon as
part of the Methodist Schools celebrations of the Olympic Games taking place in London.

Taking part in their respective houses of Wesley, Osborn,
Morgan and Payne, each team was challenged to complete
the distance of a quarter of a marathon. A fierce
competition took place as the teams raced to cover the
distance of 10,500 metres in the quickest time possible.
Wesley house emerged victorius with the delighted pupils
pictured with an Olympic torch, kindly lent to the school
for the day by former pupil Keri Ringstead (RS 19982005). The total finishing time for the whole school was an
impressive 2 hours 34 minutes and 20 seconds.

A fantastic video of the Marathon is available to view via our YouTube channel, which can be found at
www.youtube.com/rydalpenrhosschool

Gold, Silver & Bronze for Skiiers Fab Season for Tomos
The ski season ended on a high for the skiiers as they took part in the
North Wales School Ski Championships in Runcorn.

The Girls’ team of Sara Owen, Seren Kerfoot-Robson, Pia Roth and
Vanessa Biermannova all produced runs that were quick enough to put
them on the podiums of the individual age category races and between
them they picked up three Gold medals and one Silver medal.

The Boys’ ‘A’ team went into the race as
Welsh champions and were determined
to live up to their billing as favourites.
Team members Sean Robinson, Henry
Salisbury and Ben Crocker packed out
the podiums in the individual age
category races, and also took home the
North Wales Championship and Gold
team medals.

The Boys’ ‘B’ team of Solomon Kerfoot-Robson, Morgan Roberts and
Finn Batley all produced great runs and their Bronze team medal clearly
show the potential this young team have in the future.

Tomos Cuddihy, 12, continues to impress in the
swimming pool, having a particularly successful
2011/12 season.

Starting well, Tomos achieved personal best
times in all 12 of his races at Llandudno
Swimming Club’s Championships where he set a
club record for the 100 metre freestyle. Tomos’
good form continued as he won a
number of silver medals and once again set
personal best times for his races at the Conwy
Autumn Open Meet.
The North Wales Gala took place in February
and saw Tomos swim in ten races, where he
continued to impress by achieving personal bests
in all ten races. The Gala also saw Tomos win
one gold, four silver and two bronze medals.

Tomos is currently ranked in the top 15 in Wales
for most of his events for his age group and is
in the top five in North Wales.

Football News

Issue 2 - Page 12

The football team is headed by captain Andrew
Welden this season and the coaches are Mike
Farnell and Lee Williams. Football is a relatively
new sport in the school, but is well loved and
supported by staff and pupils alike. The training
is on Wednesdays from 5-6pm and fixtures start
again in the spring term. The one to watch this
year is the Ellesmere match which was played and
won by the newly formed Rydal Penrhos team last
year and they definitely intend to win again this
year.
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Sports Dinner

The annual Sports Awards Dinner took place on 11 May to
celebrate the sporting achievements and contributions
players have made to sport throughout their time in school.

For the first time, younger pupils who have played in senior
teams were invited to the dinner to help their team mates
celebrate their successes. The evening began with Mr Leach
reflecting on the past year’s team achievements in netball,
hockey, rugby, football, tennis, cricket, fives, swimming and
athletics before highlighting some impressive individual
accomplishments.

Following a delicious three-course meal, the prizes for most
improved player of the year were announced. They were
awarded by Richard Greenwood, special guest for the evening,
who gained five caps for England and played for Rugby Roma
before turning his hand to coaching.

Boarding House News
As part of the current extension plan there have been developments and
improvements in the boarding houses during the spring and summer of 2012. At
present Rydal Penrhos has five boarding houses which are all conveniently located
close to the school and its sports facilities. The refurbishment is designed to house
more pupils and will see Hathaway relocate to Ashcroft at the top of Pwllycrochan
Avenue from September 2012. The refurbishment includes internal and external
decoration and improvements in keeping with previous work in Netherton,
Edwards and Walshaw.

Living Room in Edwards

Up to now Hathaway has been a Sixth form house. As a result of the refurbishment, from September 2012 new
Hathaway will provide accommodation for pupils from Year 10 upwards, allowing greater flexibility and developing the
principle of boarding houses that integrate all year groups – so-called ‘vertical boarding’. New Hathaway will have 28 beds,
larger room sizes, more communal areas and improved amenities, as well as upgraded on-site staff accommodation.

Across the road from Hathaway, work has been taking place throughout the summer in Beecholme, where all the
bedrooms on the top floor have been refurbished. Commenting on all the improvements Deputy Head (Pastoral) Tim
Cashell said, “The redevelopments are part of a continual enhancement programme that the school is working on in order
to maintain extremely high standards of student living.”
Many of these recent changes have been based on feedback received from the Boarding Forum, a discussion group that
takes place regularly throughout term and provides opportunities for boarding pupils to express their likes and dislikes
about boarding in the school.

Weekend Activities

At Rydal Penrhos, a diverse programme of weekend activities forms an integral part
of the school’s ethos for all pupils – both boarding and day. In the summer term,
these activities included many trips that made the most of the school’s fantastic
location close to the mountains and rivers of Snowdonia and the beaches of
Anglesey. Pupils took part in white-water kayaking and gorge-walking in Snowdonia,
and surfing in Rhosneigr. In addition, an outing to the Chill Factore in Manchester was
used as an ideal opportunity to practise skiing and snowboarding skills in preparation
for the school ski trip in 2013.
As well as sporting activities, Rydal Penrhos offers pupils a range of opportunities
to become involved in the local community. Recent examples have included the
regular tea parties held at St John’s church for elderly local residents, and the
volunteer marshals provided by the school to help and support runners at the annual 10-mile race in Llandudno. Many pupils also enjoy the popular shopping
excursions to Liverpool One and the Trafford Centre in Manchester, as well as
thrill-seeking trips such as ice-skating, go-karting, or outings to Alton Towers.

Issue 2 - Page 14

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History Department visit Rome

The History Department visited Rome during June 2012. Gabriel McCluskey, Year 10 offers
his account of the trip:

Our first full day in Rome was a frenzy of activity, with a group made up of pupils from Years 10
to 13 visiting two of Italy’s capital’s greatest and busiest locales; the seat of religious power that is
the Vatican City and the glorious and beautiful expanse that is the Piazza San Pietro, or the square
of Saint Peter and the Church of that self-same moniker. Truly, the inherent beauty of these buildings, these trophies of mankind’s endeavours and faith, cannot be instilled into the most sophisticated of words, but must be experienced and witnessed to be truly comprehended and
appreciated.

On our second full day in Rome we again visited some of its greatest spectacles, the
Coliseum and the Forum, both sights which inspired an almost beatific feeling in
several members of the group. We also witnessed some papers of vast historical
importance in the ‘Lux in Arcana’ museum exhibit, including a transcript of a trial that was nearly
60 metres long; edicts of war between countries; the signatures of men and women of vast
importance both historical and cultural even today; ledgers and inter-Vatican missives so far
unseen by the general public.

Our far too brief excursion to Rome was one that will certainly remain with its
participants for years, although Rome was not built in a day it will certainly leave
millions of people across the width and breadth of the Earth with memories that will last them
for their entire lives. And I, for one, am deeply thankful that I was permitted to experience such a
place so soon in my life. Thanks go to Mr Bennett and Mr Lavin for taking us.

Rydal Penrhos Society Prep School News
There are over 4,000 members of the Rydal Penrhos Society,
with ages ranging from 18 to over 100, and with a huge
variety of occupations and interests. These members have an
incredible bank of knowledge and experience which, if
shared, could be a tremendous asset to our pupils. This
prompted us to ask our alumni to consider becoming
Careers Mentors for current pupils.
Rydal Penrhos provides a fantastic careers
service, offering advice and guidance
regarding career choices and university
applications, however nothing will ever
match the knowledge of someone who has
real experience in their chosen field.

Our aim is to work alongside the school careers service to
give pupils the opportunity to have their questions answered
by people with a real understanding of their chosen
occupation. This service will not be limited to current pupils
however, as Mentors can also be available for those who are
just starting out on the career ladder, or those who are
having a change of direction later in life. We have had a
fantastic response so far, and now have a group of former
pupils ready and waiting to answer questions!

If you are a former pupil of the school and are not currently
in touch with the Rydal Penrhos Society, please contact Sarah
Ritchie, Alumni & Development Director, at
SJRitchie@rydal-penrhos.com.
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The Autumn term will see
some real differences at
Rydal Penrhos Prep
School.

Music lessons in Year 2
will include learning the
recorder and in Year 3,
the violin. The teaching of
chess will be introduced in Year 2 and Years 3 to 6
will have one lesson every fortnight of learning and
thinking skills. These lessons will include topics such as
mind-mapping, active thinking and learning, and different
types of questioning. Their aim is to enable all children to
keep alive the natural curiosity they have as young children
as well as being able to stand out from the crowd, having
confidence in their learning and thinking skills.

In the Prep department we are also introducing two
afternoons of games as opposed to one. PE skills will be
incorporated into the games lessons whilst swimming will
still take place separately. This change will allow us to teach
more games skills alongside playing fixtures, and to support
this, our team squads in major sports will be open rather
than selective.

Finally, we are upgrading many of the schools computers
and looking forward to the arrival of four tablet computers,
the use of which we shall be trialling in Year 6.
Issue 2 - Page 15